Key events
Ahead of this evening’s state banquet, PA Media reports that the king and queen have personally inspected the banquet table in St George’s Hall.
Pink, purple and yellow blooms adorn the extravagant floral displays on the 50-metre table. The royal couple shook hands with household staff.
After the Red Arrows flypast earlier, most of the crowd at Windsor Castle dispersed, the BBC reports.
A few dozen people still remain outside – among them a mix of Trump supporters sporting ‘Make America Great Again’ hats, demonstrators with placards, and passersby hoping to catch a glimpse of the US president.
But remember, Trump isn’t due to emerge from behind the castle walls, where most of the days events have taken place. With no more planned events that will be visible from outside, later this evening Trump will attend a state banquet inside the castle.
Corbyn complains about ‘very sinister’ suppression of protest, as he praises those arrested for Trump/Epstein pictures stunt
Andrew Sparrow
Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who is now an independent MP, has congratulated the activists arrested by the police after pictures of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to the walls of Windsor Castle.
Referring to them at the anti-Trump rally in Parliament Square, he said: “Well done.”
He went on
There’s something very sinister about our times when peaceful protest becomes terrorism: when an ad van going around Windsor Castle perfectly legally is then stopped by the police, taken away, and those people prevented from expressing a point of view.
This is what’s happening to our democratic rights and democratic values in our society. They take away the right to protest because they don’t want us to protest.
That is all from me for today. I’m handing over now to Lucy Campbell.
Shabana Mahmood to clamp down on misuse of Modern Slavery Act by migrants after court defeat on French deportation
Turning away from Trump for a moment, Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has issued a statement about the court ruling yesterday halting the deportation to France of an Eritrean man who arrived on a small boat. He would have been the first person sent back under the new “one in, one out” returns deal with France. But he claims to be a victim of trafficking and the court agreed to halt the deportation to allow more time for this claim to be investigated.
Mahmood said she would appeal against the decision. She implied the trafficking claim was bogus and she also revealed that she is urgently reviewing the Modern Slavery Act to stop it being abused. She said:
Last minute attempts to frustrate a removal are intolerable, and I will fight them at every step.
Migrants suddenly deciding that they are a modern slave on the eve of their removal, having never made such a claim before, make a mockery of our laws and this country’s generosity.
I will fight to end vexatious, last-minute claims. I will robustly defend the British public’s priorities in any court. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our border.
The Home Office was already looking at reforming the systems in place for dealing with modern slavery, but this new review will look at whether the legislation is open to misuse by asylum seekers.
The government is still expecting the first returns under the new deal with France to take place this week.
About 5,000 people attending anti-Trump rally in Westminster, Met police say
The Metropolitan police say they think about 5,000 people are attending the anti-Trump rally in Parliament Square.
The ‘Stop Trump Coalition’ demonstration is now in Parliament Square where a rally is taking place. Road closures are in place.
We estimate up to 5,000 people are in attendance. pic.twitter.com/iUW6xHJimS
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 17, 2025
In London the comedian Nish Kumar, who is hosting the anti-Trump rally in Parliament Square, said last week’s Unite the Kingdom protest puts the UK in “an incredibly scary position”.
He said he was “incredibly scared right now” but urged protesters to come together, before leading a chant of “say it loud, say it clear, Donald Trump’s not welcome here”.
“We have a common aim, there are more of us than there are of them, let’s not give up this fight,” Kumar said.
Former Labour MP Zara Sultana also referred to Saturday’s protests.
She said protesters “marched with the backing of international figures of the far right”, and included Trump among them.
What is the offence of malicious communications?
Some readers have been asking about the offence of “malicious communications”. This was the reason given by the police when they arrested four men after pictures of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to the walls of Windsor Castle last night.
On Bluesky Paul Bernal, a law professor, says a lot of people do not appreciate what the offence involves. He is referring people to the Malicious Communications Act, which says someone commits this offence if: a) they send an “indecent or grossly offensive” message; and b) it’s with the intent of causing “distress or anxiety to the recipient or to any other person to whom he intends that it or its contents or nature should be communicated”.
What is beating retreat?
Here is the Ministry of Defence’s explanation of what the beating retreat ceremony actually is.
Beating Retreat is a military spectacle and ceremony which originated in the early years of organised warfare and symbolises the end of the day when camp gates were closed and ceremonial flags were lowered.
The ceremony takes place on Horse Guards Parade every year in June, when the salute is taken by a member of the Royal Family.
Apparently this is the first time there has been a beating retreat during a state visit.
(That may be in part because, when previous presidents have visited the UK on state visits, the organisers have not had to keep the president locked up behind a castle wall for a whole day because they don’t want protests to spoil public-facing visits.)
The MoD has also explained some of the music chosen for the ceremony.
Much of the music chosen for this Beating Retreat ceremony is relevant to the historic relationship between the UK and US:
Eagle Squadron commemorates US pilots who flew in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War
Golden Friendship is a classic American march which is a favourite of the First Lady. It is often played for her at the White House. Its title is particularly appropriate to today’s ceremonies.
Eternal Father is international associated with fallen seafarers. It is often played at sunset to mark the end of the day and reflect on shared sacrifice.
Battle Hymn of the Republic is often played at the White House, including for President Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill at the end of the Second World War.
